Uric Acid Crystals And Antibodies

Author:

Kanevets U, Sharma K, Dresser K, Shi Y.

Title:

A role of IgM antibodies in monosodium urate crystal formation and associated adjuvanticity.

Published:

J Immunol. 2009 Feb 15;182(4):1912-8.

Explores the relationship between uric acid crystals and the immune system in the processes that lead to joint inflammation and gout pain.

Leave this page to browse the Joint Inflammation pages in the Understanding Uric Acid Section

New Anti-inflammatory Targets

Novel Targets for Antiinflammatory and Antiarthritic Agents. July 2006. Kulkarni RG et al. Explains how new understanding of tissue and joint inflammation processes within the human immune system offers new opportunities for pain relief medications. Also reviews currently available anti-inflammatory drugs.

New Anti Inflammatory Drugs

The report mentions some new anti inflammatory drugs that were being tested at the time of the report. Some of these are likely to be adopted for gout pain relief, and as they become available, I will report them in the Gout Treatment Section, and associated Gout Treatment Blog.

It is always worth asking your doctor if new treatments are available. Often, your pharmacist is a good source of new anti inflammatory drugs, as they are in constant contact with representatives from pharmaceutical companies.

Anti-inflammatory Herbs

Reduction of urate crystal-induced inflammation by root extracts from traditional oriental medicinal plants: elevation of prostaglandin D2 levels. July 2007, Sung Mun Jung et al. Traditional Chinese herbal root extracts of Siberian Ginseng, Dong Quai (Chinese Angelica), and Baikal Skullcap, reduced the inflammatory immune response to urate crystals in mice.

Though this investigation deals with artificially induced gout in mice, the researchers anticipate it could be effective in dealing with the joint inflammation processes in human gouty arthritis.